Little Rock police officers have to decide whether to forgo a raise for the second time in six months. A budget shortfall means the city is now offering the force vacation time instead of a raise.
"We are doing more crime fighting with less people," says FOP President John Gilchrist.
The force is now about 100 officers smaller than it was 15 years ago.
"It's difficult for all of us," he adds.
The city wants officers to forgo the four-percent raise their union contract called for six months ago.
"It's not about the amount of money. It's about the principle of the contract, in that we don't want the contract violated," says Gilchrist.
Instead of a raise, the city manager proposes giving every officer 80 hours of vacation time, extending the contract to 2012, moving the four-percent and three-percent raises to 2011 and 2012, extending the comp time cap to 400 hours and paying six months of COBRA benefits to those retiring next year.
"It's not truly an equal situation because it doesn't put any extra money that they were guaranteed into their pockets."
FOP members have two days left to vote. Gilchrist predicts a close call.
"I have a handful of disgruntled members that, you know, don't understand the theory that every time the city has to go back and wring the sponge to find more money to compensate for budget deficits," he says.
On the other hand, Gilchrist says other officers understand the budget shortfall and are thankful the city hasn't laid any officers off.
